It’s never a pleasant thing to be standing on the outside looking in. This is no less true of film fandom. No matter what the object of widespread cinephile affection, if the fanbase is large enough, a nonfan can feel as if there is something they are fundamentally missing. Take the Resident Evil franchise, a spate of films that began life as a videogame series before being adapted for the screen not once, five times. This is a remarkable feat when one considers how the vast majority of videogames adapted to film do not enjoy more than a single, often spectacularly underwhelming, entry.
Critical beatings notwithstanding, none of the previous four Resident Evil films failed to rake in at least $100 million worldwide; the last installment earning a formidable $296 million in total box office gross. So with Resident Evil: Retribution about to invade theaters, the lingering question remains for those who don’t count themselves fans: what is the appeal? Rather than cram in another round of viewings, once again letting personal biases color objective understanding, it seemed more logical to ask the fans themselves.
One of the most overwhelmingly recurring reasons most fans tended to voice support for this film series has to do with its lead character Alice and the actress who plays her: Milla Jovovich. Resident Evil proponent Noah Lee states that the heart his appreciation was “watching Milla kick the [stuffing] out of zombies.”
“I have a thing for hot women that kick ass,” adds fan Jen Morocco. This sentiment is likewise held by Rod Paddock, who affirms, “It’s fun watching Milla kick ass.” Apparently, Milla’s propensity for connecting boot to enemy posterior is a major draw. Even those who have begun to check out as the franchise has progressed acknowledge this. “Milla is the only reason I’m still watching,” admits Mico Low.
This is an argument that’s easy to understand, and probably represents the most legitimate root cause for the franchise’s continued financial success. The sad truth is that far too few actresses have been given the opportunity to shine in action films since the genre was created. That’s not to say there haven’t been females featured prominently, some even in formidable leads, but the frequency of something like, say, a woman headlining an action franchise was abysmally low. Enter Resident Evil. Though the films may fall well short of capturing the imaginations of scores of detractors, it is impossible to deny the new age of gender equality in action cinema it ushered in.
The action itself, not surprisingly, also appears to be a big draw for fans of the Resident Evil series. “They can be a bit cheesy at times, but the blood and guts and action is why I keep watching,” confesses Brandon Jones. There’s no doubt violence is a prominent costar in the franchise, something fans of this genre can certainly appreciate, no matter the individual film.
One fan, Matthew Marko, constructs an interesting simile for what it is that makes the action of these particular films so appealing: “It's like a kid playing with very expensive action figures,” he says. The action figure comparison may be especially apt, as many would argue the franchise’s emphasis on spectacle over-trifling things like story plays to more juvenile sensibilities. “They are just so much fun if you are willing to check your brain smarts at the door,” offers Dan Hatton.
One evident misconception to which an outsider may be beholden is that a key element to the appeal of the Resident Evil movies is fandom of the Resident Evil games. The assumption is reasonable; the truth, however, is far less simplistic. “There are elements from the games, but that's about it. I wouldn't refer to them as faithful adaptations in the slightest,” says First Showing’s James Wallace, with Michael Scally adding, “They are so far removed the games.”
Is this divergence really such a bad thing, considering certain content from the games? Some would argue attempts at faithful adaptation have actually hurt the film franchise in the past. “Jill being mind-controlled by a cleavage bugbot was stupid within the game's own universe. Why bring it over?” ponders Scally. Movies.com’s Peter Hall points out, “I've liked the entire series. [It] gets increasingly sillier, which puts it closer to the games.” So while a few elements have been ported over from the game, perhaps it’s a similarity in tone that appeals to both the gamers and the action fans.
There seems to be plenty within the Resident Film universe to engender fondness within a fanbase. It is also interesting to note how fans defend the entries they feel to be superior. Among the many reasons Brian Broadus enjoys the first film is his conviction that “the soundtrack is badass, the ending is killer and it's the only Resident Evil movie that even tries to be a horror flick.” Others, however, feel the third entry is the best. “It was directed better," claims Denis McElwaine. "It had no bad looking rubber suits and it had an almost credible The Birdsem reference." Actor A.J. Bowen also champions third installment Resident Evil: Extinction, as he notes, “it has an actual post-apocalyptic tone and the aesthetic doesn't work against itself.”
The fans have spoken, and their support for this franchise is far from unreasonable. The root causes of their appreciation for the Resident Evil movies echo those at the heart of so many beloved action films. Some of us may still reside on the outside, but after hearing the insights of diehard fans like these, we may be ready to kick down the barriers that preclude our affinity and give Resident Evil: Retribution a fair shake.
[Photo Credit: Screen Gems]
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There’s no question that American Idol’s popularity is waning. With our television screens overrun with programs like The Voice and The X Factor, singing reality show fatigue has set in, with audiences eager to label the former ratings juggernaut the most outdated, irrelevant model. Perhaps they can blame Season 9’s shark-jumping decision to hire Ellen DeGeneres as a judge. Perhaps they can blame Idol’s unwillingness to freshen up its 11-season-old formula. (The Voice might have lesser talent, but they do have chairs that spin!) Or perhaps they can blame Idol’s attempts to eat into their lives, broadcasting the show up to three times a week. Whereas millions of fans would tune into Idol come hell, high water, or Ryan Seacrest’s high flat-ironed hair, millions have spent the past season finally checking out. And the disinterest was never more clear than during Friday’s American Idols LIVE! concert at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
In seasons past, there was an undeniable sense of excitement brimming the second you walked into the American Idols LIVE! concert. Girls, both toddlers and teens, walked the halls of the stadium plastered with images advertising their favorite idols. Some wore shirts covered in photos of industry powerhouses like Carrie Underwood, but most had an impressive dedication to forgettable faces like Michael Sarver. The bond between those latter concertgoers was strong — they were all fans who sat glued to their television sets two to three times a week, obsessively dialed their telephones 20-30 times a night, and irrationally hated three to four contestants who might outlast their favorites. They sat at home prior to the concert for what seemed like hours to craft a perfect poster with a perfect message for their perfect Idol, regardless of whether they were sitting in the first row or the nosebleeds.
But on Friday night, the mood shifted. Boardwalk Hall, which was at capacity in seasons past, appeared only half full, making you hope the stadium wouldn’t shine its lights bright enough for the Idols to notice the low turnout. Only a few fans brandished posters — for the East Coast-bred Elise Testone — and young girls chose One Direction or GAP t-shirts over Phillip Phillips attire. And then there was the concert’s curious demographic — most sections were filled with the over-60 set who looked as though they were counting down the hours until they could filter back into the casinos. Even contest winners who scored a spot directly next to the stage couldn’t drum up enough enthusiasm during the concert to stand up and cheer, or even do anything but talk to their seat neighbors. Where was Idol’s much-needed young demographic? And, more importantly, where were its fans?
It was a sad sight to behold, especially since the concert proved that Idol’s contestants, unlike the stars of The Voice, have still got it. The American Idols LIVE! tour is always interesting — it’s easy to wonder whether the season’s musicians will still impress without close-up smoldering shots to appeal to female voters or TV-friendly staging. And every season, most of the Top 10 indeed deliver. Yes, Phillip was indeed not nearly as adorable as he is on a 40-inch screen — perhaps because on Friday night, he was, as usual, sick — but he more than proved himself the worthy winner with a five-song set ending in his popular and ever-addictive “Home.” (Oh yes, you best believe that launched a sing-along.) Of course, it was clear Phillip was still beholden to the Idol machine — whereas other contestants got an opportunity to perform multiple covers we hadn’t already heard, Phillip was forced to sing mostly repeats: The jazzy remix of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” the hauntingly gorgeous “Volcano,” and, oddly enough, the unnerving “Somebody That I Used To Know,” which was just as uneven and unimpressive as it was on live TV this past spring. We already listen to our favorite Phillip Phillips performances on iTunes — how refreshing would it be to hear an entirely original set? That said, audiences were also treated to a fittingly nice and slow remix of Usher’s “Nice &amp; Slow,” which played just as well as his Top 7 performance of “U Got It Bad” on Idol.
As in seasons past, the winner might have been billed as the concert’s main attraction, but he hardly ended up becoming the main attraction. For the sake of build-up — and allowing him time to record his album off-stage — Phillip wasn’t featured at all in the first act, only appearing in the concert’s final 15 minutes. But the mere absence of the winner is always refreshing, in a way. It allows audiences’ attention to shift to some of the less appreciated contestants. And every year, there’s one unexpected break-out at the American Idols LIVE! concert. Last year, it was showman Stefano Langone (who, shortly after the tour’s wrap, scored a record deal that led to one sadly unsuccessful single). And this year, though he received the smallest amount of applause in a schmaltzy meteor-themed introduction that couldn’t collide with audience excitement, DeAndre Brackensick stood out just as much as his wildly coifed hair.
But, interestingly enough, it wasn’t DeAndre’s solo that won him such acclaim. Instead, DeAndre stood out the most while standing in the background. Serving as backup for six songs — not including group numbers — DeAndre delivered whole-hearted enthusiasm missing from many solos throughout the evening. When DeAndre snapped, he snapped. When DeAndre dipped, he dipped. And when DeAndre shook his butt (yes, that happened many times throughout the ridiculously fun Jessica Sanchez-led cover of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”), the boy shook. it. Though DeAndre seemed poised to be a member of the Top 10 who would fade into obscurity, his performance Friday set him up for a promising career as a background singer. Or, at least, a professional hairographer.
And it’s entirely possible he’ll be serving back-up for girlfriend(!) and Beyoncé mini-me Jessica. Though close-up shots of the runner-up via a stadium camera showed a hint of exhaustion in her eyes, Jessica still remained the consummate professional — and the most impressively powerful member of the Top 10. Though it was easy for Jessica to feel like a superstar during the middling Beyoncé cover “Best Thing I Never Had” — oh, the wonders of a wind machine — the singer proved her prowess during a piano- (and, of course, DeAndre-) backed cover of Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me” that should have had radio stations calling for a single. How can anyone have so much soul before even passing basic calculus? (Though, that is a subject that could give you the blues.)
It was a three-song set so strong, you found yourself wondering how long you would have to wait to pre-order Jessica’s album. But the runner-up wasn’t given the opportunity to advertise any single, or even announce to audiences that she had scored a deal with Interscope earlier this summer. Colton Dixon, however, both put aside time to tell the stadium that he had signed with Christian music label Sparrow Records and performed a new single, “Never Gone.” The single — about, you guessed it, Jesus — left little doubt as to Colton’s superstar status within the Christian music industry. It was modern, radio-friendly, and pretty enough to make non-Christians wish God hadn’t hogged the contestant to him(or her)self. Especially after hearing Colton’s soaring cover of Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live,” and his predictable (but still lovely) performance of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Whether Colton will be able to crossover into the Top 40 like Switchfoot is in God’s hands, as is his confounding ability to fit into such tight pants.
Elise offered some quality counter-programming for audiences during the concert’s first set, repeating her outstanding Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” complete with vocal runs that would impress Xtina herself. With a two-song set that included a cover of Adele’s “Rumor Has It,” the contestant proved herself to be one of the more vocally talented members of the Top 10, even if she still lacked likeability. You can respect Elise’s confidence — why shouldn’t she acknowledge that she kicks ass? But the crowd was much less willing to accept her aplomb as Joshua Ledet’s, a contestant who spent a whole minute basking in the crowd’s glory following a rousing repeat performance of Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby” and James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.” Of course, like Elise, he deserved to — without judge favoritism weighing Joshua down, it’s much easier to be truly (and rightly) impressed by his passion and unrivaled pipes. Funny that it took Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson’s absence to finally understand what Steven, Jennifer, and Randy had been talking about for months.
Now, not every Idol was worthy of their title during Friday’s show. The usually fiery Skyler Laine had dimmed during performances of Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead” and Faces’ “Stay With Me,” and only seemed to heat up against Hollie Cavanagh during a duet of Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It.” Erika Van Pelt delivered a cover of Pink’s “Glitter In the Air” that shined brighter than most acts in the first act — but anything would sparkle next to an off-key, painful rendition of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” from Erika, Colton, Hollie, and Joshua. Hollie proved she is a human being that exists with wooden covers of Adele’s “Rolling In the Deep” and Demi Lovato’s “Give Your Heart a Break.” And Heejun Han solidified himself as a human blooper reel with an excruciating performance of John Legend’s “Green Light” that included the unfortunate repeated lyric “I’m ready to go right now.” (As my mother said during the number, “Then go already!”) That said, Heejun did deliver the first boost of the evening via a spirited rap during a group performance of LMFAO’s “Party Rock.”
And even when contestants like Heejun flatline, it’s difficult not to root for them — the unbridled enthusiasm of the Top 10 makes their likely fade into irrelevancy even more depressing. Especially should the Idol machine become much less powerful — no Idol since Season 5 has proven to be an instant hit-maker like Kelly Clarkson, Underwood, and Daughtry. And though the show’s devotees always knew a moment like this would come — when the reality singing competition wouldn’t be nearly as influential as it was in its mid-2000s prime — hey, at least it’s not Duets.
Follow Kate on Twitter at HWKateWard
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Joe South, the country and folk singer-songwriter most famous for the song "Walk a Mile in My Shoes," died on Wednesday at the age of 72. The Huffington Post reports that South passed away following a heart attack in his home in Buford, Ga.
Georgia native South was born Joseph Souter in 1940, rising to prominence as a musician in the late 1950s and early '60s, after writing the novelty hit "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor," born from the characters created in the popular songs "Purple People Eater" (by Sheb Wooley) and "Witch Doctor" (made famous by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.'s Alvin and the Chipmunks). South went on to collaborate with famed music icons like The Big Bopper, Gene Vincent, and Aretha Franklin.
South's lengthy and eventful career has invited a great deal of recognition; In 1979, South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2003, he found a home in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
[Photo Credit: GAB Archive/Getty Images]
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Hall bought the mansion in Los Angeles in April, 2008 for around $1.8 million (£1.1 million), just months before he and Carpenter eloped.
The marriage subsequently broke down in 2010 and their divorce was finalised last December (11), and the house which they shared as man and wife has now been sold off for close to $2 million (£1.3 million), according to the Los Angeles Times.
The property in the Hollywood Hills boasts four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gym and swimming pool.

Everyone on the nightly news, the Internet, and, most importantly, your Twitter and Facebook accounts is talking about the Republican National Convention in Tampa. And after that, the Democrats do their dog and donkey show in Charlotte and the media takeover will start anew. It's all that's happening right now — but, still, it is boring. There, I said it. It's boring. It's worse than a lecture on oral hygiene that you had to sit through in fifth grade. Dull dull dull dull dull. And, even worse, we're going to have to relive some of these moments ad nauseum... and they won't get any more exciting.
Let's consider political conventions for a minute. They last for several days, create huge news, are full of thousands of rabid fans, and are relentlessly covered by the media, despite the fact that only a select portion of the population caring about them deeply. Looking at that description, it seems political conventions have their own entertainment-fueled cousin: Comic-Con! Both of these conventions share notable similarities with the one difference being that I care about one and not the other. So, what can the political conventions learn from Comic-Con to jazz things up a little? We're here to help, politics.
More Costumes: During the first few days of Comic-Con, entertainment websites across the Internet launch galleries of the crazy cos play people in their extremely elaborate Slave Princess Leia and Batman get-ups. Those fans definitely garner attention, so why not dress up a little bit, delegates? (And I'm not talking dress shirts and pantsuits.) May we suggest that each delegate wear a costume based on where they're from? A farmer costume from Kansas, cowboy duds from Texas, a prep school uniform from Connecticut. (Just like Drop Dead Gorgeous!) Or maybe they should dress up like their favorite characters: George Washington, Betsy Ross, or every GOPers favorite, Ronald Reagan. C'mon, the tea party has embraced this — why can't every other party follow (bat)suit?
Celebrities: Yes, famous commentators from Rush Limbaugh to Rachel Maddow will be attending the conventions, as will the politically outspoken Clooneys and the Kelsey Grammers. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to get invited too and then blew it all with a scandal. ("I'll be back," apparently also applies to his attending future Republican conventions.) But let's get some other ones there just to glitz up the show. Just random ones. Oh look, there is Megan Fox talking policy with Dick Cheney. Can you believe that Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez are posing for pictures with Michelle Obama? Who knew that Ashton Kutcher is as tall as Mitt Romney? See how much fun that was, and it was fake!
Question and Answer Period: The one thing that separates Comic-Con panels from the conventions is that, when it comes to the former, the fans get the opportunity to converse with the big names. Fans get to grill writers, directors, producers, and actors about just how they're going to handle their favorite fictional properties. Why shouldn't the delegates be allowed the chance to ask Mitt Romney and Barack Obama some questions? Won't that add some spontaneity? These are going to be very hospitable audiences. If there was a time for the "town hall" format to flourish, this is it.
More Exciting Footage: At Comic-Con this year, fans were rewarded with footage of the new Hobbit movie. That's awesome. What are we going to get at the convention this year? A skit of Donald Trump telling Barack Obama, "You're fired." Snoozeville. If you're going to make some clips, at least make them as inventive and exciting as the shows at the Con.
Booth Babes: You know how on the floor of the convention there are all those little signs announcing each state? Why can't those be held up by girls or guys in skimpy outfits? Seriously, let's finally give back, candidates.
Endless Swag: The best part about Comic-Con? Free stuff! Attendees can pick up figurines, posters, autographs, and, of course, comic books for no charge. What do you get at the political conventions? A "Barack Obama Hope" pin? A foam Mitt Romney #1 Mitten with a finger pointing in the air? An American flag lapel pins? Sorry, conventions: We would prefer more creative swag like "Cabinet Trading Cards" or "Speaker of the House Masks."
Make Your Promises Come True: When producers announce they're prepping a remake at Comic-Con, fans will see said remake in theaters. When a director announces the star of a picture, said actor actually stars in the movie. When we see early footage from a TV show, said footage eventually ends up in the pilot. When we get promises of change, new programs, or promised bipartisanship at a political convention, it never really happens. Sure, release dates can change, but the movie eventually comes out. Maybe if we thought that the things we heard at this big shindig would actually come true, we'd be a little bit more invested in the outcome.
Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan
[Photo Credit: AP Photo]
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When the Dexter cast and crew teamed up for a killer panel during last month's San Diego Comic Con, it seemed as though a Ukrainian mobster (Ray Stevenson) would be Dex's (Michael C. Hall) main threat throughout season seven — but the teaser trailer released today suggests otherwise. At the end of season six, Dexter's eternally loyal and morally upright sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) finally walked in on a kill, and the footage released at Con showed her reacting to that discovery for the first few minutes of next season's September premiere. As it turns out, her completely appropriate moral freakout won't be contained to the premiere — it will be a driving force throughout the whole season, when Dexter finds that the greatest threat to his freedom could be his very own sister:
Of course, the trailer let us in on some other intriguing challenges headed Dexter's way — there's that creepy lab tech Louis (Josh Cooke), who is obsessed with season one's Ice Truck Killer and now apparently hellbent on seeing Dexter lying in a pool of his own urine. Then there's LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez), who discovers a blood slide at the church scene, which will inevitably re-open that whole Bay Harbor Butcher debacle. Still, the greatest threat of all seems to be coming from Deb, who may or may not turn Dex in at any moment. Does she have what it takes to betray her own fake-brother? Could he really kill her? Guess we'll find out Sept. 30! Check out the two minute sneak peek below, in case you missed it:
Follow Shaunna on Twitter @HWShaunna
[PHOTO CREDIT: Showtime]
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Yes, it's only August, but we're already thinking about Oscar hosts. (Damn, I wish I put so much planning into my Halloween costume and Christmas shopping.) We're getting so close to February's show that people are already turning down the job. Today on Today Jimmy Fallon said that he had been asked by the Academy of Motion Picture Fuddies and Duddies to host the awards, but he said no. Damn, that would have been a pretty good show.
What are we going to do instead? We've seen all sorts of people do it over the past few years from boring safe choices like Hugh Jackman and Billy Crystal to failed crazy ideas like the duo of Anne Hathaway and James Franco. So, who are they going to get? So many of our late night hosts have tried and failed (stick to politics, Jon Stewart) and Neil Patrick Harris is so eager to host anything you can probably see him next Thursday hosting your church talent show.
There have to be some crazy choices that actually make sense and could be a lot of fun. Here are 10 that I came up with. You can thank me with the honorary Oscar you were going to give to Woody Allen.
Justin Timberlake: OK, this is the actual only quote unquote good idea that I actually had. But seriously, he can sing and dance and stars in movies and is funny and charming and attractive and everything we'd really want in a host. Sadly he comes with the evil creature named Jessica Biel attached to him, but everyone has their faults.
A Hologram of Bob Hope: Every year some codgers are all, "Bring back Whoopi! Bring back Billy! Bring back some old person who we don't remember!" Well, those people won't be happy until the dearly departed Bob Hope can come back from the grave to host the Oscars. Let's finally give them what they want. If they can do it for Tupac for some silly concert, they can certainly do it for the Academy Awards.
Arsenio Hall: The '90s are coming back in a major way and he is getting another talk show. Why not let him crack wise on Hollywood's biggest night. This is a thing that should make you go, "Hmmmm," but will probably just make you go, "No, no, no. That is an awful idea."
Sacha Baron Cohen: Seriously he would do something awful, everyone would watch, and we would never stop talking about it. He would be the host equivalent of that swan dress. That sounds like success to me.
Harvey Weinstein: There has been no more consistent presence at the Oscars over the past two decades than this mogul. Why not let him be in charge? That way we can all watch him rage and scream at all the winners when they beat one of his movies.
Sally Field: You like her. You really like her.
Ron Burgundy: Why do we need a non-fictional person to host the Oscars? Will Ferrell might be a little too odd and hammy on his own, but what if he just channeled his beloved newscaster for the entire evening? Let's get a little preview of Anchorman 2.
Maggie Smith: She wouldn't so much as host as just stand there and glare and say, "Well..." a lot while folding her hands. Occasionally there would be a withering quip and we would all applaud and then die of happiness. There is a reason she has like 19 Oscars.
Kristen Wiig: This would mostly be a good choice just to shut up all those people who think that women can't be funny. Also because you know she'd bring along her hilarious BFFs like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Melissa McCarthy to make the night even better. The promo can be, "We're flipping our Wiig for the Oscars." See, this just writes itself.
The Cast of Friends: OK, this is my other quote unquote good idea. Sure the only one to really transition to movies is (ugh) Jennifer Aniston and they are more TV people, but who wouldn't watch this? They can all be funny, we all know who they are, and this way we can have a little reunion without them having to make more episodes. Remember what I said about the '90s coming back. Make it happen, Oscar!
Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan
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The actress has begun training for the gruelling race as part of an attempt to be more active in her personal life, since her role as a homicide lieutenant in the dark TV drama can be draining.
She tells Us Weekly magazine, "I'm training for the New York marathon. On the weekends you can just hole up and do nothing, and then your whole life is about work, so I'm trying to get out of my house. I run, I started taking some new classes, I joined LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), I want to take a painting class. I'm trying to stay busy."
Carpenter, who was previously married to her Dexter co-star Michael C. Hall, also likens her passion for acting to an "addiction", insisting, "I just can't get enough of it."
She adds, "It never feels like it's closing in on me. I just need to keep a good balance... I have learned that keeping my personal life outside of work is the easier, richer way to work. I truly go to work and disappear into (my character's) skin. And when I sort of check back into my life, a life I know I'm very lucky to have and take very good care of, it's easy. I somehow scored three days off this week and I booked it to New York and just sort of disappeared with friends."

Showtime President of Entertainment David Nevins took the TCA stage Monday afternoon in Beverly Hills to spill some desperately needed details on all your favorite shows. And because we love you oh-so much, Hollywood.com has gathered all the facts and put them into one giant Showtime mega-post! You’re welcome.
So what’s the status on Dexter? How many more seasons of Homeland can we expect to cherish? And will we see additional episodes of Californication and Inside Comedy? Check out all the updates below!
The Big C: The Showtime Exec revealed that Laura Linney and Co. are coming back for a fourth season, but it will also be the show’s last. You can check out all the details on the cancer themed drama’s final season here!
The Borgias: Showtime’s period drama is currently shooting their third season (set to premiere in 2013) and Nevins says a another season is very likely. He explains, “The original plan going in was four seasons.” However, Nevins clarified that just because the plan was four doesn’t mean the head honcho wont green-light a fifth.
Californication: How much longer can fans expect to see Californication on the air? Nevins admits, “I’m honestly not sure.” He says the upcoming season has a great combination of comedy and soulfulness, but he hasn't seen any cuts yet. Luckily, he won't make any decisions until the show has aired.
Dexter: The Showtime Prez confirmed that ending the cult-hit after two more seasons is "the likely scenario." Nevins reveals, "But plans can always change. Everything has gotten rewired this [coming season] given that Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) has to deal with who her brother is. Everything changes… Every scene is fraught because you’re wondering what is she going to do. What does he think she’s going to do." The seventh season of Dexter premiere Sunday, September 30 at 9 p.m.
Episodes: It would be shocking to not see this critically acclaimed hit return for a third season and apparently Nevins thinks so too. “We’re working on the details right now but I’m expecting Episodes to come back,” said Nevins. “I think that show is irregular as opposed to some of your other shows… [And] we tend to be a little slower to get them on the air, but my intention is to keep going.” Plus, Matt LeBlanc exclusively told us that a mini Friends reunion is all set on an upcoming episode.
Homeland: After boasting to the room that Homeland won a Golden Globe for Best Drama, nine Emmy nominations and a Peabody, Nevins says that the future of the freshman mega-hit is a “wide blue sky.” Although he expects the show to last for many seasons, Nevins warns that does not mean that the core cast will last just as long. “Anybody can go at anytime,” said Nevins. "They’ve made some very bold choices this year." The second season of Homeland premiere Sunday, September 30 at 10 p.m.
House of Lies: Like Homeland, Nevins is expecting this raunchy comedy to become one of the network’s new flagship shows. He says the network is expecting the first-year hit to be “big” in 2013.
Inside Comedy: It’s back and better than ever! David Steinberg and Steve Carell’s comedy documentary is returning this fall with ten all-new episodes. Fans can expect to see comedy legends such as Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell and Albert Brooks.
Nurse Jackie: Nevins didn’t really mention anything about Edie Falco or the rest of her amazing ensemble, but he did however praise the dramedy’s “great benefits” of changing things up and not avoiding consequences. "You better not fall into predictable patterns. As soon as you get predictable, you get boring."
Shameless: The dramedy with America’s favorite dysfunctional family is currently filming their third season — episode four, to be exact. Stay tuned, because Hollywood.com has tons of exclusive Season 3 scoop from Emmy Rossum (Fiona), Shanola Hampton (Veronica) and Cameron Monaghan (Ian) coming soon. Here’s a little teaser: “Shameless season three is epic,” exclaimed Hampton at the CBS/CW/Showtime party Sunday night. “And we are not holding back at all!”
Weeds: Nevins admits that he has read the final episode of the long-time comedy but would not disclose any teasers. He admits with a smile, “[Creator] Jenji [Kohan] would kill me if I gave any details.” However the Showtime boss adds, "It was very carefully planned towards," and it “answers a lot of questions.” Nevins also said he would “love it” if Mary-Lousie Parker would return to Showtime as either an actor or a producer. Plus, we got Hunter Parrish to tell us an exclusive secret!
[Image Credit: Showtime]
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He's used to partying in Miami with Jennifer Lopez but Pitbull is headed to a colder, less sparkly place — Sarah Palin's homestate of Alaska. You betcha.
The rap superstar confirmed on Tuesday that he'd visit the small town of Kodiak, Alaska, as part of a promotion with Walmart and Sheet Energy Strips. The contest was based on whichever store got the most "likes" on its Facebook page.
No one ever imagined a little town like Kodiak (population 6,100) would win.
So, what happened, do Alaskans just go nuts for "International Love"?
Maybe — but they got a little help. It was all part of a prank played by a writer for The Boston Phoenix, David Thorpe: He thought it would be funny to send Pitbull to the most faraway Walmart ever, and encouraged people to "like" Kodiak's Walmart. He says he has nothing against the music star. He wanted to disrupt a corporate social media campaign. And it worked. The store ended up with more than 70,000 "likes."
Pitbull found out about the prank but took it all in stride. In a YouTube video on Tuesday, he said, "I heard that Kodiak, Alaska, has the most likes due to someone who thinks he was playing a prank. I said, `OK, great, this sounds really good.' You have to understand I will go anywhere in the world for my fans."
He then asked Mr. Thorpe to come along on the trip. "I want to invite that someone who thinks it's a joke to Kodiak, Alaska, with me," he said.
Thorpe's response? It's "very likely" he's going. He just has to raise the funds to get there. What, no extra seat on Pitbull's private jet?
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